Nursing Interventions to Reduce Stress in Families of Critical Care Patients: An Integrative Review

Activity Summary

This article discusses the nurse’s role to assess stress and to intervene with family members to help them reduce their stress when their loved one receives intensive care. The article provides a complete picture of this phenomenon by conducting an integrative review to establish the state of knowledge regarding the stress experienced by families with a hospitalized relative in the ICU and the nursing interventions implemented with the aim of helping family members reduce their stress.

Objectives

Describe the stressful experience of family members of patient receiving intensive care.
Outline the principal stressors family members are exposed to when their relative is hospitalized in intensive care.
Analyze the multiple nursing interventions that adequately address the stress experienced by family members of intensive care patients.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must attend/view/read the entire activity and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Disclosure

This activity has been reviewed by the Nurse Planner. It has been determined that the material presented here shows no bias. No conflicts of interest have been identified for any individual with the ability to influence the content of this activity. Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or ANCC approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California State Board of Nursing (CBRN), California Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.